IGES Export Settings dialog box

Used to set general IGES export settings. Opens when Settings > General is chosen in the Export IGES File dialog box.

IGES Export Settings dialog box

Settings File

Displays the path and filename of the attached export settings file. To attach a different export settings file, choose Status from the File menu in the Export IGES File dialog box.

Drafting Standard

Sets the drafting standard.

Measuring System

Sets the measuring system.

Name

Name of the measuring system in the IGES file.

IGES Version

Sets the IGES version (4.0 or 5.0) for the exported IGES file.

IGES Version 4.0 does not support copious data entities (type 106) in composite curves. This makes it necessary to translate line strings in complex chains as multiple line entities (type 110). In IGES Version 5.0, this restriction is removed, allowing more compact translation of line strings in complex chains. This is the only difference between choosing IGES version 4.0 or version 5.0.

Reference Files

Sets how references are converted:

• Ignore
— any attached references are not translated and no attachment information is saved in the IGES file.

• Merge
— all reference information is merged into the IGES file.

Flattening

Lets you translate a 3D DGN file to a 2D IGES file. Flattening is necessary if the receiving application does not support 3D.

• None
— Perform no flattening and export to a 3D IGES file.

• (standard 3D view)
— One of the standard 3D views (Top, Bottom, Front, Back, Left, Right, or Iso) can be chosen to flatten the DGN file in that orientation.

This item is dimmed if the active DGN file is 2D.

Translation Units

Sets whether to equate IGES file units to either the master units or sub-units of the active DGN file. See Working units for more information about MicroStation working units.

For example, to export an architectural design with master units of feet and sub-units of inches to an IGES file with file units of inches, set Translation Units to Sub-Units.

IGES has no equivalent for MicroStation sub-units.

Decimal Accuracy

Sets the accuracy, in decimal places, with which coordinates from the DGN file are stored in the IGES file.

By default, Decimal Accuracy is set so that the maximum error is less than 1 positional unit. Changing this value is usually not necessary. See Working units for more information about how MicroStation defines coordinates.

Scale Factor

Sets the scale factor that is applied to all exported elements. This can be used to tailor the translation to create geometry for receiving applications that read data at a different scale or in a different coordinate system.

By default, set to 1.0 (no scaling).

Stroke Tolerance

The maximum deviation, in Translation Units, between the actual curve and the approximating line segments for arc, curve, B-spline curve, or B-spline surface entities, if they are excluded.

If any of these IGES entities are excluded in the Exclude IGES Entities dialog box (opened by choosing Settings menu/Exclude IGES Entities… in the Export IGES File dialog box), they are approximated by line segments, referred to as strokes, in line string or shape elements.

If stroke tolerance is	Number of segments is see footnote 162	Approximation quality
Decreased	Increased	Finer
Increased	Reduced	Coarser

See Excluding IGES entities for more information about excluding IGES entities.

Max. Line Width (MM)

Sets the IGES line thickness in millimeters (mm) that is assigned to MicroStation line weight 31. The other line weights are assigned thicknesses that are proportional to this value. For example, if Maximum Line Width is set to 5 mm (the default, about 0.2"), lines of weight 31 and 15 in the DGN file are 5.0 mm and 2.5 mm thick, respectively, in the IGES file.

MicroStation line weights are not associated with a specific thickness, but instead determine the relative line weight of a line with respect to other line weight values. This lets line weight display be tailored to the display hardware. In contrast, line weights in IGES are specified by the actual line thickness.

Export body option

Choose from exporting a solid, surface or wireframe.

Export model option

Export the model with all its graphic elements such as lines, text, solids, and surfaces or only the parametric model with SmartSolids/SmartSurfaces.

Fence Contents

If a fence is placed, Fence Contents is on by default and only the fence contents are exported. The fence contents are determined by the Fence (Selection) Mode.

If off, the entire DGN file is exported.

Standard Colors

If on, the color of each element in the DGN file is converted to the closest IGES standard color.

IGES Standard Colors

1. Black

2. Red

3. Green

4. Blue

5. Yellow

6. Magenta

7. Cyan

8. White

If off, each color in the active color table is converted to a color in the IGES color definition entity. Standard Colors should only be turned off if the receiving application can import the IGES color definition entity (type 314).

Break Dimensions

When on, dimensions aren't exported as IGES dimension entities (the default choice), but instead dimensions are exported as their constituent elements (lines, text, etc.).

JAMA-IS entities only

When on, exports the DGN file to IGES according to the JAMA (Japanese Automotive Manufactures Association) standard.

OK

Makes the specified changes. The changes remain in effect only for the current translation.

Cancel

Closes the dialog box without making any changes.